Due to the SAD#1 School Board’s vote to eliminate a fall harvest break for its 536 high school students, the Summer Gap Feeding Program is preparing for its second and final summer of providing lunches to SAD #1 elementary and middle school students. The Summer Gap program will begin August 13 when the school’s program ends and will continue until August 31 when all students in SAD #1 will be in school again for the year.
During the summer, SAD #1 provides breakfast and lunch, through federal funding, to children in the Presque Isle area who are under the age of 18. However, once the high school goes back into session, the funding ends, which leaves the elementary and middle school students without that meal program. The Summer Gap Feeding Program was created last summer as a solution to this problem through a collaboration of United Way of Aroostook, TAMC, the Presque Isle Housing Program, and the City of Presque Isle. Due to the generosity of many local businesses and individuals the program was able to provide just over 3,000 meals to children in the area over 20-day period. Over 100 volunteers took part in the process to prepare and deliver these meals to children at 5 local sites.
This year, due to programming and the new playground and splash pad, the Summer Gap committee expects to serve upwards of 500 children daily for the 15-day period, raising the cost of the program over last year.
“We are excited and grateful to see some of our last year’s sponsors and even some great, new sponsors already join us for this program by donating funds and food!” said Sherry Locke, Executive Director of United Way of Aroostook. “We will do the best we can to serve the entire fifteen days and will do so if the necessary funds are raised.”
The Aroostook Medical Center recently held a snack drive and its employees were able to collect and contribute enough snacks for the summer feeding program. Coca Cola Bottling Company has graciously donated the water for the program. Several sponsors, including The County Federal Credit Union, Gallagher Insurance Company, Cassidy Orthodontics, Huber Engineered Woods, LLC, Kiwanis Club of Presque Isle, Presque Isle Rotary Club, The Northern Lighthouse, United Insurance/Hayden Perry Agency, Farm Credit East, MMG Insurance, Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell of Presque Isle, Lajoie Electric & Control Services, Inc., and Star City IGA have joined the cause. Through their generous donations, the cost of the first week of food has been raised, leaving just ten more days to fund. United Way is gratefully accepting donations of any amount to help fund the program which helps address the childhood hunger issue in the Star City.
If you or your business or organization would like to be part of the solution by donating or volunteering, contact Sherry Locke at United Way, (207) 764-5197.
